What Are the Types Of Glazing Interlayers? | IQ Projects

Are there different types of glazing interlayers and what are the differences?

What is a Glazing Interlayer?

Two or more glass panes are joined with an interlayer to form laminated glass. Glass laminates have a number of advantages, including greater noise reduction and increased security. To increase the strength of the glass panel for a walk-on load, they are utilized in structural glass flooring. They are used to produce cantilevered glass structures that can withstand the necessary line load within frameless glass balustrades. They are used in glass doors to meet security requirements and in windows to increase acoustic reduction. But what laminate is right for your project?

Why should I use an interlayer?

Glazing interlayers can increase the performance and durability of glass drastically. The main improvements when using interlayers are increasing UV protection and glass strength. Increasing UV protection is ideal for glass roofs, glass extensions or any large spans of glazing that are exposed to sunlight often. A glass interlayer will further nullify any chances of overheating and solar gain. Interlayers can also reduce solar damage on things such as furniture or flooring. Solar gain and heat are responsible 25% of heat related damage to furniture in homes across the UK. With a correct glazing interlayer this is reduced to almost 0%.

Not only with glass interlayers increase UV protection, but they will also increase the system strength drastically. Interlayers act as a further reinforcement and level of security to any glazing system.

The types of glazing interlayers can also reduce acoustic levels. This makes it ideal for homes or buildings near busy roads or footpaths with heavy foot traffic.

Types of Glazing Interlayers

Polyvinyl Butyral(PVB) vs SentryGlas(SGP)

The most used types of glazing interlayer are PVB and SGP. PVB is the most used interlayer and can be applied to a wide variety of glazing systems. It is also very cost-effective. On the other hand, SGP tends to be more expensive, the price comes with a handful of advantages over PVB due to its rigidity and strength which far excels Polyvinyl.

The benefits of SGP?

Also known as Ionplast Interlayers, SGP is commonly specified for IQ Projects systems due to its extreme strength and durability. With a tear strength of 5x times greater than PVB and 100x rigidity, these high-performance strengthening interlayers are used on critical areas.

A glass unit laminated with IQ's Strengthening Interlayer has more strength after glass fracture than ordinary PVB. When compared to an equivalent PVB laminated unit, which shifted considerably after 400 seconds, it can support a 3300 kg weight with little deflection. The evaluated tear strength of a strengthening interlayer is 50 MJ/m3, as opposed to 10-15 MJ/m3 for a conventional PVB interlayer.

This indicates that even after breaking, the laminated glass panel can support a person's weight for more than 1800 seconds, guaranteeing the security and safety of installations until a repair is possible.

Glazing Interlayers For Commercial Projects.

For commercial projects SGP interlayers are a great addition to your glazing systems. At IQ we often specify frameless or minimally framed glass balustrades for projects commercial buildings with heavy foot traffic. Glass balustrades must be structural strong while being able to take human weight loads, the addition of a glass interlayer can reinforce the strength and even assist the system in maintaining structural integrity incase of breakage.

Glass floor features also benefit from the added security and strength. At our showroom, within the panes of our floating glass box meeting room, an SGP interlayer has been used. The addition of this allows for up to 8 people plus furniture to stand within the glass box.

To find out more about the types of glazing interlayers, contact the IQ Projects team today.